Director of the Emmaus Public Library, Krista Pegnetter, spoke briefly to the Emmaus Borough Council at the Sept. 21 meeting.

Pegnetter said the library’s summer reading program was “phenomenally successful” this year, with 361 students signing up compared to last summer’s 87 students. Of these 361 students, 126 finished the entire summer which means they read at least 10 hours. The students attend 47 different schools.

“We really attribute it to partnering with the Lower Macungie Library,” Pegnetter said. “Our two children’s libraries went into the [East Penn] school district together and passed out bookmarks. That reached over 4,000 students right there.”

The bookmarks displayed information for both libraries. Pegnetter said library staffers figured it would make sense to go into the schools with Lower Macungie Library to explain to children which library would be better suited for them to visit based on their home address.

Members of the Emmaus Main Street Partners also spoke at the council meeting.

In attendance were representatives John Hayes, Jess O’Donnell and Emily Gerber. O’Donnell said in the past year membership increased from 50 to a little more than 200.

With regard to new members and businesses, O’Donnell said “we’re engaging them right away; we’re trying to get them involved.”

It was stressed several times efforts are to showcase to other communities what the Emmaus Borough is all about.

The Main Street Partners also partnered with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and applied for a matching grant which has allowed them to put up new flags on Main Street and throughout Emmaus. Members and non-members can purchase flags.

At the end of the presentation a flag displaying, “Emmaus Borough Council” was donated to council.